NEW DELHI: Amid ongoing negotiations over a trade agreement with the United States, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday made it clear that India will not sign a trade deal in a hurry or with a gun on its head. Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal stressed that for India, a trade deal is not only about tariffs but a long-term vision. “India will not sign any trade deal in a hurry,” Goyal said while referring to the ongoing talks with the US. “In a very short-term context, it’s not about what is going to happen in the next six months. It’s not just about being able to sell steel to America,” Goyal said.
Goyal further stated that trade deals are for a longer duration. “It’s not only about tariffs, it’s also about trust and a relationship. Trade deals are also about businesses,” he said. When pointed out the steep tariffs the US has imposed on India, Goyal said, “India never takes decisions in a rush or under the pressure of the moment. We have accepted if there is a tariff on us then there is a tariff on us.”
Earlier on Thursday, Goyal had said that India and the US are engaged in talks, with teams working together, and that the Commerce Secretary met US counterparts to push talks forward toward a fair and equitable trade deal. “We are in dialogue with the United States of America. Our teams are engaged. We recently had the Commerce Secretary visit the US, and he met with his counterparts. We continue to engage with them, and talks are progressing. We hope to work towards a fair and equitable agreement in the near future,” said Goyal.
Agencies
We don’t do deals with a gun on our head’: Goyal on trade pact with US
